Steel side door for railway cars



June 13, 1933. J. J; TATUM LS1-'4,053

STEEL SIDE D ooRvFoB RAILWAY CARS Filed sepa., 22, 195o :s sheetslshe'et 1 v'lnvcutor OOOOOOOOOOODOOOOO Gttorneg 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Smacntor Gttorneg J. J. TATUM Filed Sept. 22, 1950 STEEL SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAY CARS Jun 13, 1933.

June 13, 1933. J. J. TATUM 1,914,053

STEEL SIDE DOOR FOR RAILWAYv CARS Filed Sept. 22, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gftorneg Patented lune 13, 1933 PTENT FEE JQHN J. TATUM, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND STEEL SIIDEFDOOR` FR RAILWAY CARS Application filed September 22, 1930. Serial No. 483,645.

This invention relates to improvements in steel side doors for pressed steel railway cars of boX type, and has for its primary object to provide a sliding car door which while comparatively light invweight is of great strength and durability, and which is so mounted as to offer just sufficient resistance to opening and closing movements as to prevent its violent slamming at the end i0 of either movement, thus obviating liability of damage to the door or to the door mountings on the car body.

Another objectof the invention is to provide a door which when in closed position is proof against the entrance ofrain or snow through the door or between the door and doorway.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a door which may be economically 2G manufactured and kept in proper VWorking condition and which will be proof against displacement from its working position or from falling from the car even in the event of its bottom guides being broken and displaced or dropping od.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a door having a substantially ilat surface, ensuring a rapid water shed, and

n reducing to a material extent wind resistance "0 in the travel of the car.

Still another object of the invention is to provide mounts for the door which will prevent scraping of the door against the side V of the car, and which will p-rovide a maxi-` 3" mum bearing surface for the door while offering a minimum degree of resistance to its movements. y

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement 0 of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accomfl panying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a steel box car equipped with my improved door.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section, with parts broken away, on the line 2--2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section,

y with parts broken away, on the line 3 3 of @t Fig. i. i

.posed in superposed relation with the lower Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 4 4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 5 is a cross section through one of th bottom door guides.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, l designates the body of a pressed steel boX car of anv conventional or approved type and construction and having in its side wall 2 an opening or doorway 3 adapted to be closed by my improved sliding door 4.

The door 4 comprises a body portion made of one or more sheet steel plates 5, and the plate 0r plates forming said door body are provided at the top and sides of the door with inwardly bent flanges 46 and 7, respectively. These flanges cooperate with an angle metal bar or rail 8 at the bottom of the door frame to provide a shallow panshaped door. At desired locations between the top and bottom flanges of the door and the side flanges of the door are. disposed pressed steel braces 9 to stiifen and reinforce the door body toy a proper degree. Vherev the door is made of aplurality of plates 5, these plates areV dis- 5 edge of each relatively upper plate overlap- 7 ping the upper edge of each relativelylower plate, so as to make the joints of moisture shedding charactert Between these lapping portions of the plates 5 at the joints, which are united by bolts or rivets l0, a suitable packing or sealing means, such as sealing paper or other material, not shown, may be placed to make the joints absolutely air and water proof. The braces 9, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, consist each of a substantially V-shaped or trough-shaped sheet metal member combining strength with lightness of weight and having longitudinal flanges ll at top and bottom, one or both of which may be bolted or riveted tothe door plates. Where the door is constructed, as shown, of a plurality of plates with lapping portions the same rivets 10 may be used for fastening the braces in place as are used for uniting the lapping door plates.

In practice, the door body vis preferably provided on its interior with wooden strips 12 extending around its top, sides and bottom in contact with the flanges 6 and i land the ange metal rail and riveted or otherwise scoured to the door body, so as to form a framing which will assist in preventing distortion of the body plates and flanges and in preserving the form of the door. These wooden strips furthermore serve as sealing members arranged, in the closed position of the door, between the door body and the j ambs 13 and 3 and sill 14 of the doorway to prevent enu' trance of snow or rain in inclement weather into the car between the door and frame of the doorway. The angle metal. bottom bar 8 is made of heavier section than the plates 5 comprising the body proper of the door for the purpose of providing a bottom track rail for the door of wear sustaining character, ensuring longer life of the metal bearing portion of the door engaging the guide or track brackets 15 on the car body on which the door slides. The bar or rail 8 further serves to give stiffness and rigidity to the bottom of the door and to so sustain the doorway as to prevent sagging of the door.

The guide or track brackets 15 are secured to the side of the car and arranged in such spaced relation that the door will always be adequately supported in any of its open and closed positions. rlhese track brackets 15 are of novel construction, each comprising a horizontal body plate 16 having at its inner edge a downturned attaching flange 17 adapted to bear against and to be riveted or otherwise attached to the side sill 18 of the car body, and having at its outer edge an upturned guard flange 19 spaced from the door sill 111 to form a guideway for the lower edge of the door and acting to prevent outward displacement of the door. The body plate 16 is V -shaped or of arched formation in cross section to provide a supporting and track surface of great strength and having a rounded crest engaged by the door rail 8 so as to effectually support the weight of the door while presenting a bearing surface of such area as to allow the door to be easily opened and closed, and while also opposing a degree of frictional resistance to its opening and closing movements such as will prevent the door from moving too freely in either direction and violently slamming against its stops and the door frame, with liability of in jury to these parts, as often happens where the door is mounted on roller or ball bear` ings. At the same time the brackets 15 are not subject, as are roller or ball bearings. to easy breakage or other injury and liability of the door binding, and such causes are re` duced to a minimum. At its top the door is provided with inner and outer sets of guide brackets or members 21 and 22. The members 21 are bolted or riveted to the upper edge of the door and are arranged to travel beneath an angle metal bar 23 forming a hood secured to the angle metal lintel 24 of the doorway and provided with a downturned guard flange 25 lying outside the brackets 21 so as to cooperate therewith to form stops to limit the outward movement of the upper edge of the door and to guide the same in a true path, the hood and its flange further serving to overhang and close the joint between the top of the door and top of the doorway and to prevent entrance of rain or snow at this point. are secured to the door body outside the flange 25 of the hood 23 and are provided with inwardly projecting abutment portions 26 bearing against the outer face of the flange 25 to limit the inward movement of the door and prevent it from scraping against the side of the car. The brackets 22 are also provided with horizontal inwardly projecting arms 27 which normally extend above and out of contact with the horizontal body of the hood 23 but are adapted to drop down upon the hood and support the-door and hold it from falling, in the event that from any cause one or more of the bottom brackets 15 should be displaced or broken and dislodged so as to permit the door to drop from its normal position. By this means loss of or damage to car contents or other damages resulting from the displacement and falling of a door from the car will be effectually prevented or reduced to the minimum.

Suitable stops 28 are provided on the car side to limit the opening movement of the door. These stops are adapted to be engaged by an angle metal reinforcing and abutment bar 29 secured to the rear edge of the door, said bar 29 having a bracing flange 30 lapping over upon the face of the door and having kan inner flange 31 projecting at an oblique angle beyond the inner side of the door for contact with a stop flange 32 on the door jamb 13. When the door is closed the flange 31 laps the fiange 32 in such a manner that such flanges form a closure to prevent the beating of water or snow between the car body and door at this point. The forward edge of the door is also provided with an angle metal reinforcing and abutment bar 33 having a bracing flange 34 bearing against the outer side of the door and having a stop flange 35 adapted in the closed position of the door to engage and seat within a channeled keeper or retaining rail 36 se cured to the amb 13 and coacting therewith to seal the joint between the car body and door at such point against the entrance of water and snow. The bar 36 has its outer wall slotted to receive a keeper member 37 secured to the forward edge of the door, whereby the door is accurately guided in its closing movement to bring the member 37 into position to be engaged by a latch or locking element 38 on the side of the car. it being understood that means of this character or any other suitable means for latching rihe brackets 22 y rfi or locking the door in its closed position may be employed. The outer faceofthe door is provided with suitable handles or other means 39 to allow it tobe readily and conveniently-opened or closed by a trainman.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and operation of my improved steel side door for cars will be readily understood, without a further and extended description, vand it will be seen that the invention provides a door which may be easily and economically manufactured, which is of great strength and durability and adapted to resist distortion and retain its shape and uf'hicl'i embodies important and desirable advantages ensuring its ease of operation and its retention in place even in the event of the breakage or displacement of its bottom supports. Furthermore, the invention pro vides novel and improved means for preventing undesirable friction between the door and car body, or scraping of the door against the car body, while at the same time effecting a sealing of all'joints inthe closed position of the door to prevent entrance of water or snow into the car in inclement weather.

While the preferred construction is as herein disclosed, it will of course be understood that changes in the form, proportion and details of construction and arrangement of the parts of the door, and cooperative parts of the' car, may be resorted to without departing from my invention or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. i

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim l. A railway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formedof sheet metal plates lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having portions bent therefrom and providing inwardly eX- tending top and side marginal flanges form-. ing the top and side rails of the door. and

having its fourth sde open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourthflange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased crosssection with respect to the sheet metal of th-e body and flanges and providing a track engagin g rail at the base of the door.

2. A railway car door comprising a panshaped structure formed of superposed sheet metal plates lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having united lapping edges and portions bent therefrom and forming inwardly extending'top and side n'iarginal flanges constituting the top and side rails of the door and having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourth flange Closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet netal of the body and Jilanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door.

3. A railway car door comprising a panshaped structure consisting of a sheet metal body having portions bent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges forming the top and side rails of the door and having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourth flange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet metal of the body and its top and side flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, and'wooden battens arranged within the pan-shaped'body and extending around the sides of the same and in contact with said flanges and rail.

4. A railway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formed of sheet metal plate having lapping united edges and lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and provided with portions bent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges forming the top and side rails of the door and having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a rfourth flange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section .with respect to the sheet metal of the body and its top and side flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, and wooden battens arranged within the panshaped body and extending around the same and in contact with said flanges and rail.

5. A railway `car door comprising a panshaped structure formed of a sheet metal body lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having portions bent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges forming the top andv side rails of the door and having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourth flange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet metal of the body and flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, and angle metal reinforcing bars at the front and rear edges of the door and provided with stop and sealing llanges for coaction with coacting stop and sealing members on the door frame of the car. I

6. A railway car door comprising a panshaped structure formed of sheet metal plates lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and havingunited lapping edges and provided with portionsbent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and vside marginal flanges forming the top and side rails of the door and having its fourth sideo'pen, and an angle iron bottom bar pre sentlng a fourth flange closing said open side and completing the vpan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet metal of the body and flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, and angle metal reinforcing bars at the front and rear edges of the door and provided with stop and sealing flanges for coaction with coacting stop and sealing members on the door frame of the car.

7. A railway car door comprising a panshaped structure consisting of a sheet-metal body lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having portions bent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges forming the top and side rails of the door and having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourth flange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet metal of the body and its top and side flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, wooden battens arranged within the pan-shaped body and extending around the saine and in contactl with said flanges and rail, and angle metal reinforcing bars at the front and rear edges of the door and provided with stop and seal ing flanges for coaction with coacting stop and sealing members on the door frame of the car.

8. A railway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formed of sheet metal plates lying substantially on the same vertical plane throughout and having lapping united edges and provided with portions bent therefrom to provide inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges forming the top and side rails of the doorand having its fourth side open, and an angle iron bottom bar presenting a fourth flange closing said open side and completing the pan formation, said bar being of increased cross-section with respect to the sheet metal of the body and its top and side flanges and providing a track engaging rail at the base of the door, wooden battens arranged within the pan-shaped body and extending around the same and in Contact with said flanges and rail, and angle metal reinforcing bars at the front and rear edges of the door and provided with stop and sealinf` flanges for coaction with coacting stop and sealing members on the door frame of the car.

9. A railway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formed of sheet metal plates having lapping united edges and provided with inwardly extending top and side marginal flanges, and a hollow pressed metal stiffening beam extending across the door body between the side marginal flanges; one edge of the pressed beam being secured in place by the fastenings uniting the lapping edges of the door plates, the opposite edge of the beam being fastened to a door plate.

10. A lrailway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formed of sheet metal plates lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having lapping united edges, said plates being provided with portions bent therefrom to form inwardly extending top and side marginal anges constituting the top and side rails of the door, a flanged bottom rail of greater thickness than the metal of the body and secured thereto, and a U-shaped metal stiifening beam extending across the doo-r body between the side marginal flanges, one edge of said beam being secured in place by the fastenings uniting the lapping edges of the door plates, and the opposite edge of the beam being fastened to a door plate.

l1. A railway car door comprising a panshaped body structure formed of sheet metal plates lying substantially in the same vertical plane throughout and having lapping united edges, said plates being provided with portions bent therefrom to form inwardly extendingtop and side marginal flanges constituting the top and side rails of the door, a flanged bottom rail of greater thickness than the metal of the body and secured thereto, a U-shaped metal stiffening beam extending across the door body between the side marginal flanges, one edge of said beam being secured in place by the fastenings uniting the lapping edges of the door plates, and the opposite edge of the beam being fastened to a door plate, and wooden b-attens arranged within the pan-shaped body and securedto and extending around and in contact with said flanges and rail. Y

l2. A sliding door for railway cars comprising a rectangular sheet metal body having inwardly extending flanges at its top and side forming top and side rails integral with the sheet metal of the body, the fourth side of said body being normally open, and a bottom rail having a flange closing said open side of the body and forming with the first-named flanges a pan-shaped door, said rail being of greater crosssectional thickness than the metal of the body and its top and side rail forming flanges.

In testimony whereof I ailfix my signature.

JOHN J. TATUM.

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